Music instrument



March 10, 1931. M. STOEHR 1,795,320

MUSIC INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 6. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ML X F1 a W 2 15 v o 14 16 Q ,26 & w 23 7.5.

J =e 25 17 2 I d! cl 1 g 19 22 2 14 g- 21 Z 15 4 W mam] INVENTOR.

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By g g m n A TTORNEY.

March 10, 1931. STQEHR 1,795,320 MUSIC INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

DY-w BY M g; ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES MORIZ STOEHR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MUSIC INSTRUMENT Application filed February 6, 1929.

My invention relates to music instruments and more especially to keyboard instruments, such as pianos and organs, and the object of the present invention is to provide means whereby it is possible for a performer on such an instrument to record the music so that anyone, for instance, gifted as an improviser may have :1 written 'ecord of his improvised music.

In addition I have in accordance with the present invention, also provided means for making a performance on the keyboard instrument soundless, when the recorder is used.

For a fuller explanation of my invention, 1 refer to the following detailed description and the annexed drawing, in which Fig. 1

shows a portion of an upright piano, as seen from the front, together with the recorder;

Fi 2 is a vertical transverse section along line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmental transverse section through the keyboard portion showing the recorder in combination therewith; Figure 4 shows a portion of a music sheet used in this instrument.

In Fig. 2, the piano frame is indicated at 1. By 2 is designated the normal keyboard comprising the ordinary groups of white and black keys. At 3 is shown the false keyboard of a transposing device which does not form a part of this invention, which keyboard also is constituted of white and black keys, like the keyboard of the piano, but contains one octave more than the normal keyboard for the purpose which will hereafter appear. At 4 are shown members which are pivotally mounted on a rod 5 extending lengthwise of the piano and which are provided for transmitting the movements of any keys in the false keyboard to the keys of the normal keyboard. To this end, each pivotal member 4 carries a small screw 6, or the like which screws, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, are so positioned relative to the keys of the false keyboard that upon the depression of any key of said keyboard, the corresponding member 4 will be rocked about pivot rod 5 so as to depress a key on the normal keyboard. A

small spring indicated at 4a is provided in connection with each member 4 to always return the same to its original position. There Serial No. 337,773.

are 88 pivotal members 4 corresponding in number to that of the keys of the normal keyboard. The keys of the false keyboard are pivotally mounted on a rod 7, also extending lengthwise of the piano.

In Fig. I have illustrated the recorder which, as shown in said figure, may be used directly in combination with the keys of the normal keyboard, for which purpose, small hooks, 13, are screwed, or otherwise secured in the keys of the normal keyboard, the hooks being exactly a'lined in one row.

The recorder is supported on a metal frame 14 which rests on the blocks of the normal keyboard and carries the paper rollers 15 and 16. At 17 is shown the inking roller, while at 18 is shown a comb-like guide for the writing hammers 19, 88 in number corre sponding to the number of the piano keys,

which hammers are pivoted at 20. To the tail end of each hammer is attached a cord, or wire, 21. These cords or wires pass through the hooks 13 fastened to the piano keys. The free ends of the wires are attached to helical springs 22, which in turn are attached by means of a short cord to a tightening plug 23, like those of a violin. The plugs 23 fit into corresponding holes in a board shown at 24 extending the entire length of the piano and secured to the frame of the recorder. By means of the plugs 23-}, the tension of the cords attached to the writing hammers can be readily varied. At 25 is shown an electric motor, which, by means of -a train of toothed gears shown in Fig. 3 at 26 drives the paper roller 16. The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description. As the paper web w is wound off from roller 15 onto roller 16, it passes over the inking roller 17. Now, when a key of the normal keyboard is depressed, the corresponding hammer 19 will be rocked about its fulcrum so as to strike against the paper, which thereby is marked. Depending on the length of time during which a key is held depressed the line marked by the writing hammer on the paper is longer or shorter. It will be obvious that the paper on which the marks are made is specially lined so that the marks made there on can afterwards be properly converted into real music writin Fig. 2 shows how the recorder can be) used in combination with the transposcr. in that case, the frame 8 of the transposer and the frame 14 of the recorder are placed together on the piano frame so that the paper rollers will be above the false keyboard. In this case, the cords 21 attached to the tails of the hammers 19, pass, instead of through hooks secured to the piano keys, through hooks 27 secured to the transmissionmembers 4 so that as the keys of the false keyboard are depressed resulting in a downward rocking movement of the corresponding members 4, the writing hammers 19 connected therewith by the cords 21 are operated as above described.

At 28 in Fig. 2 is shown the hammer mechanism of the piano for striking the piano strings. If it is desired that these strings, during the operation of the recorder, shall be prevented from sounding, the" following means is provided.

At 29 is shown a bell-crank lever pivoted at 30. Two such levers are providedat each end of the piano. To the free arm of each lever is pivotally connected an arm 31. These arms 31 carry a band of felt If the bell-crank levers 29 are rocked about tl'ieir'pivots in the direction of the arrow, the felt band 32 is lowered to a position in front of the hammers 83 of the hammer mechamsm, so that as the hammers are ope 'ated,

they will strike against the felt band By this simple expedient, the sounding of the piano strings will be effectively prevented.

I claim 1. In combination with a keyboard instrument,-a recording device comprising a frame adapted to be supported by the keyboard instrument, two paper rollers supported on said frame, an inking roller associated with said paper rollers, means for rotating one of said paper rollers so to continually draw a web of paper across said inking roller, recording members displaceably mounted in said frame and adapted to be thrust against said web of paper -Wl11l8 passing across said inking roller, means 'operatwely connecting the keys of the keyboard instrument and said recording members, and V springs included in said connecting means.

MORIZ srolenn;

2. In combination with a ke board instrument, a recording device comprising a frame adapted to be supported by the keyboard instrument, two paper rollers supported on said frame, an inking roller associated with said paper rollers, means for rotating one'of said paper rollers a web of paper across said inking roller, re-

cording members displaceably mounted in said frame and adapted to be thrust against said web of paper while passing across said so as to continually draw 

